2017.07 July-August

Dear MoMath friends,

Wondering what to do when the fireworks are over? MoMath keeps the excitement going with the math of zombies, the music of Pete Muller (now with special guest performance by Marcus Miller), and the New York Math Festival. Good math reads, math in finance, an overnight hackathon, and the math of magic, all await to fill your summer days. From math in the courtroom to math in the classroom, keep connected with math all summer long, only at MoMath.

Buy your tickets to MoMath today!
After more than four years without a price increase, MoMath will be raising its admission prices by one dollar effective July 1. Tickets purchased prior to July 1 online will be honored for nine months, so don't delay…buy your tickets to the nation's only Museum of Math today.

Now open: MoMath's newest exhibit, Hoop Curves
Recreating a regulation-size free throw space within the Museum, Hoop Curves invites you to take your best shot and then to do so again, this time with the aid of a robotic ball-shooter. Using cutting edge technology to record the components of every ball launch, this exhibit promises to combine America’s love of sports with data visualization techniques that will help you improve your throw. So come on down and take your best shot…with math! Learn more at hoopcurves.momath.org.

High school students: volunteer at MoMath on weekends starting this fall
High school students with a love of math can become a part of MoMath! Gain valuable experience while helping others and add something unique to your college applications. Applications for MoMath’s 2017-2018 high school volunteer program (starting in September 2017) are now available at momath.org/jobs.

Summer groups at MoMath
Bring your school, camp, or other group to MoMath this summer and experience one of MoMath’s hands-on, educator-led sessions! Learn more at summergroups.momath.org.

2017 Transformations summer camp registration
First through eighth graders, spend the summer falling in love with mathematics as you explore the fun and beauty of mathematical games, puzzles, and geometric crafts with MoMath’s dynamic educators. Campers come back year after year to discover the never-ending wonders of mathematics. To learn more, visit summercamp.momath.org. Limited spots remain and waitlists are available; register soon!

Weekend programs for families
Take a tour with MoMath’s new Derivatives tour program (derivatives.momath.org), or join one of MoMath’s specially-trained educators in Explorations, a hands-on classroom experience to discover the wonder of mathematics (explorations.momath.org). Don’t miss your chance to see math in a whole new light, only at MoMath.

Math Encounters: "Diffusion of the Dead" with Thomas Woolley

Wednesday, July 5, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Knowing how long we have before we interact with a zombie could mean the difference between life, death, and zombification! In this game of impending doom, mathematician Thomas Woolley shows us how math might just be the best weapon we have to survive…and how strategies to defeat zombies have real-world relevance in the fight against the worldwide spread of contagious disease. Special introduction by Dr. Leslie Greengard, Courant Institute/NYU and director of the Center for Computational Biology at the Flatiron Institute. Learn more and register at mathencounters.org.

Pete Muller performs at the Cutting Room

Special event to benefit MoMathThursday, July 6, 7:00 pm
Join singer/songwriter Pete Muller in a special summer concert benefiting MoMath. Muller, a modern day Renaissance man, began his musical career by busking for the masses in the New York subways while at the same time publishing a monthly music-themed crossword puzzle and achieving success as a pioneer in quant investing, where he was dubbed one of the "hottest hedge fund manager[s] on Wall Street today." Muller’s budding musical career caught the attention of Forbes, The New York Times, and various other outlets, which led to three albums, the most recent produced by two-time Grammy winner Rick DePofi. With influences such as Billy Joel, Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, and Elvis
Costello, Muller’s accessible lyrical style has garnered him hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The evening will also feature the creative talents of John “Whooli” Whoolilurie on sax/keyboard, Skip Ward on bass, David Silliman on drums, Katie Jacoby on violin, Timba Harris on violin/trumpet, and Missy Soltero on vocals. Plus, now featuring a special guest performance by saxophonist Marcus Miller. For more information and to register, visit muller.momath.org. 100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the programs and operations of the nation’s only Museum of Mathematics.

Family Fridays at MoMath presented by Two Sigma: "Get into the Game!" with Tim Chartier

Friday, July 7, 6:30 pm
Dig into sports using math and computer science. Join mathematician Tim Chartier and learn how sports analytics has been used to help the NBA, the NFL, NASCAR, and ESPN. From analyzing March Madness to answering questions for national media, Dr. Chartier will show us how to get into the game — with math. Learn more and register at familyfridays.momath.org.

Math Metropolis, the New York Math Festival

Plaza at 28 Liberty
Sunday, July 9, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Add a little math to your summer! MoMath is pleased to present New York’s first-ever Math Festival to bring you a full day of mathematical fun. Take the entire family to the plaza at 28 Liberty and enjoy hands-on math exhibits, entertaining mathematical games, and intriguing puzzles and brainteasers. This year, the festival will feature Math Midway classics and new exhibits from MoMath, games of chance from FiCycle, life size topology and symmetry puzzles from MIND Research Institute, mathematical miming from Tim Chartier, and the mathematical juggling of educator John Chase. Plus, snacks will be available for purchase from the Proof Café, and MoMath will be setting up an outpost ofAdditions, the shop at MoMath, for all your summer gift needs. Learn more about this FREE event at metropolis.momath.org.

Tween Primes, the MoMath book club for tweens and teens: Numbed! by David Lubar Thursday, July 13, 4:30 pm
When Logan’s class takes a trip to a math museum, his mischievous friend Benedict is sure it will be a boring day—until he discovers a robot and its creator in an off-limits area. The robot proves feisty, and soon both boys get zapped. They realize only later that they’d left the museum without their math skills. To get back the knowledge they need for school—not to mention buying food at the mall, divvying up dinner at home, and much more—they’ll have to get back to the museum and pass a series of math challenges. Being “numbed” will teach Logan and Benedict just how useful, and even fun, math can be. Learn more and register at tweenprimes.momath.org.

Equilibrium, an adult evening of mathematical games at MoMath!Saturday, July 15, 6:00 pm
Tabletop gaming is more fun than ever! Come join old friends and new for a fun-filled, adult evening of mathematically-rich, hands-on games. Enjoy classics like Yahtzee and chess and modern options from Santorini to Blokus to Mine Shift. Bring a snack, play some games, and connect with new and interesting people, all while enjoying the unique evening atmosphere at the nation’s only Museum of Math. Learn more and register at equilibrium.momath.org.

Unlimited, MoMath’s mix-n-mingle program for 6th through 9th gradersSunday, July 16, 6:30 pm
Celebrate the end of the school year with your friends at the nation's only Museum of Mathematics. If you're excited by the idea of a math-filled, parent-free night where you can hang out with old and new friends, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and move to the tunes of First Class DJs, then don't miss this exciting program just for 6th through 9th graders. The best part? No parents allowed! Learn more and register at unlimited.momath.org.

Bitcoin: A little “bit" of math
Tuesday, July 18, 6:00 pm
All money is a mathematical abstraction, but cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin especially depend on a lot of deep mathematics for their existence. In this in-depth class, you'll learn how some obscure branches of mathematics came together to become a $30 billion economic system; you'll understand the inner workings of Bitcoin and the blockchain on which it is based; and you'll even learn how to steal Bitcoin with math. No mathematical background is required; however, the class is best suited to an adult audience. Visit bitcoin.momath.org for more information and to register.

Volumes, the MoMath book club: A Certain Ambiguity: A Mathematical Novel by Gaurav Suri and Hartosh Singh Bal
Thursday, July 20, 6:00 pm
While taking a class on infinity at Stanford in the late 1980s, Ravi Kapoor discovers that he is confronting the same mathematical and philosophical dilemmas that his mathematician grandfather had faced many decades earlier — and that had landed him in jail. Charged under an obscure blasphemy law in a small New Jersey town in 1919, Vijay Sahni is challenged by a skeptical judge to defend his belief that the certainty of mathematics can be extended to all human knowledge — including religion. This is a truly captivating thriller that will take you on a whirlwind tour to infinity — and beyond. But be warned: once you start reading, you won't be able to put it aside until finished! This
masterly-told story weaves together criminal law, ancient and modern history, a young man's quest to know his deceased grandfather — and some highly intriguing mathematics. Learn more and register at volumes.momath.org.

Sculptures Come to Life
Monday, July 24, 6:00 pm
Award-winning artist Antal Kelle ArtFormer joins MoMath to discuss his artwork, Helix Opus 124, on display at the National Museum of Mathematics. Join ArtFormer as he presents his stunning piece to the Museum, and enjoy the mathematical surprise underlying his artistic creation. Plus, enjoy seeing many of ArtFormer's other artworks through a series of photographs taken by his daughter, Emese Kelle-Kaleem, and curated by Kristof Fenyvesi. Learn more and register at sculptures.momath.org.

Math on Trial: How Numbers Get Used and Abused in the Courtroom
Tuesday, July 25, 6:00 pm
Mathematical calculations have been used in the courtroom to convict people of theft, treason, forgery, and even murder. But often, the math involved was wrong — and innocent people were found guilty. Join mathematician and author Coralie Colmez as she identifies some of the mistakes made during historical trials and the consequences of those errors. Sometimes, it really is a matter of life and death! Learn more and register at trial.momath.org.

Roundtable: the MoMath Math Teachers' Circle
Summer Intensive
Monday, July 31 through Friday, August 4
If you’re a K-6 educator who wants to enjoy or improve your relationship with math, don’t miss the kick-off to MoMath’s new Math Teachers' Circle. This summer intensive runs evenings for a full week and includes three evenings of engaging exploration and play that will heighten your appreciation of math. Plus, enjoy optional presentations from two of the nation’s most entertaining math presenters, Persi Diaconis and Art Benjamin. Whether you love math, want to love math, or would just settle for improving your relationship with math, this is the program for you! For more information and to register, visit mtc.momath.org.

Join mathematical sculptor Carlo Séquin and artist Hans Schepker as they explore the interrelationship between mathematics and art using the Platonic solids as their medium. Why are there exactly five Platonic solids and what happens to those shapes in the fourth dimension? How do these shapes inspire artistic creativity? This unique presentation juxtaposes a demonstration of intriguing geometric relationships with the realization of those relationships in beautiful glass and metal constructions. Learn more and register at platonic.momath.org.

Sometimes, good magic tricks use deep math or physics. Join mathematician and magician Persi Diaconis as he illustrates this by taking a coagulation-fragmentation model used in physics, chemistry, astronomy, and biology and making a surprising trick out of it. Understanding the trick and the underlying dynamics of the model leads to nice problems in combinatorics and probability. And yes, the trick really does involve chocolate! Special introduction by Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor Emeritus of the City University of New York. Learn more and register at mathencounters.org.

Family Fridays at MoMath presented by Two Sigma: "Magic Squares and Magical Squaring" with Art Benjamin

Friday, August 4, 6:30 pm
Learn the secrets of creating a personalized magic square based on your birthday along with magical ways to square, cube, and take the cube root of numbers, featuring popular entertainer and mathemagician Art Benjamin. Learn more and register at familyfridays.momath.org.

Expressions: the MoMath hackathon

Saturday, August 5, 10:00 am through Sunday, August 6, 5:00 pm
Join the MoMath technology team for a weekend of fun and creation, courtesy of Two Sigma. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the tech that makes the magic happen and a sneak peek at some of the exciting new projects in the works. Hack in teams to take on exhibit enhancement and visitor experience projects, or be among the first to experiment with new SDKs for two of the Museum's breathtaking exhibits, Dynamic Wall and Math Square. Winning projects may be incorporated into the Museum experience! Learn more and register at hackathon.momath.org.

MOVES 2017: The Magic of Math

Sunday, August 6 through Tuesday, August 8

Mathematicians and families, register now to join MoMath in NYC for the third conference on the Mathematics of Various Entertaining Subjects, sponsored by Two Sigma, featuring special guest Karl Schaffer, who will lead attendees in hands-on string demonstrations to show surprising mathematical connections. The MOVES 2017 conference will take place from August 6 through 8 and will feature dozens of talks on current research in recreational mathematics, as well as a wide variety of family-accessible mathematical activities and events. Learn more at moves.momath.org.

Pythagorize Seattle

Friday, August 11 through Tuesday, August 15

Join the National Museum of Mathematics as we return to Seattle to celebrate another Pythagoras Day — the last until 2024! Made possible by the Bezos Family Foundation, OppenheimerFunds, and Weyerhaeuser, this year's event will unfold in multiple stages, featuring a series of game-based events and a city-wide puzzle hunt designed by Lone Shark Games to engage individuals, groups, and families alike. Help us show the world that New York isn’t the only place where math can be the bedrock of an amazing mathematical celebration. What better place than Seattle to demonstrate the awesome power and sheer coolness of mathematics? Learn more at seattle.momath.org.

Events, birthday parties, and more
Looking to host a one-of-a-kind event where your guests can interact with over 40 engaging exhibits? Enter a world of mathematical intrigue, but don’t worry: amidst all the activity, there is plenty of space for gala-worthy dinners, over-the-top birthday bashes, laser-cutting parties, and bar/bat mitzvahs. Who knew math could be this much fun? Email events@momath.org for more information.

Free trips for Title I schools
Thanks to the support of companies including OppenheimerFunds, Con Edison, and Two Sigma, as well as some generous MoMath friends, support for Title I schools is now available. To apply for a free trip in the 2017-2018 school year, visit titleone.momath.org. Interested in sponsoring a field trip? Email donation@momath.org.

Beautiful Math
See what mathematicians think is beautiful about mathematics at beautiful.momath.org. Now featuring Stephen Wolfram!

Join the MoMath community
Become a member today and help ensure that MoMath continues to deliver exciting and engaging math programs for all ages. Visit momath.org/join to become a member and receive unlimited access to MoMath's innovative exhibits, plus discounts in Additions, the shop at MoMath. Become a premium member and receive early notices and invitations to exclusive MoMath events. Join now and take advantage of MoMath's low rates. To learn more about long-term memberships, call (212) 542-0566.

We need you!
Interested in volunteering on the Museum floor? If you love math, would like to help others enjoy MoMath's interactive suite of exhibits, and are willing to devote two 4-hour shifts each month, please send an email to jobs@momath.org with the subject line "MoMath integrator." Please include a cover letter, current resumé, and a newly-written essay that, in approximately 150 to 300 words, describes an experience that shaped your love of mathematics.